Even if this won’t be home much longer. The weekend wore me out. Must have worn Ali out too, since the last two nights she’s slept 12-14 hours. Either that or she’s figured out that the cold is setting in and a warm bed is the place to be! So, Friday we drove about five hours, half on mountain roads. I get car sick but was driving….and could still feel it! Poor Billie was in the back seat of Tony’s car so as to be close to Ali and she was miserable. Friday night we drove in to Tillamook so get groceries as Fred Meyer and had McD’s for dinner. Saturday we walked on the beach a little in the morning (it rained the WHOLE weekend – not a surprise) and then through "downtown" Rockaway. Mostly antique shops, candy stores, and little diners. Ali was a big hit and we told a couple people we were moving there and were welcomed very warmly. One lady heard we were coming from Seattle and warned up we’d have to slow down. Um, no duh. I’d noticed.

Then we drove back to Tillamook to visit the infamous Tillamook Cheese Factory. Same as when we were there over swpring break, the cheese was not in production. Apparently that’s only Mon-Fri. We still got some samples, bought some cheese and some ice cream. Then we drove through town to do a little exploration of the nearest city(?), population 4000. In the evening my mom and Alyssa came over (about a two hour drive from Portland), we went through a lot of the stuff that had accumulated in the ten years we’ve had the house. For example, more board games and puzzles then anyone could ever utilize, random sweatshirts, socks, and underwear, etc. They cleared they stuff out and took it for a rummage sale Alyssa is having next weekend to raise money for her upcoming mission trip to Germany. My mom also brought a ladder and jimmied up onto the roof (wet, slick, and scarily steep) to put some goo stuff on the skylight that leaked all last winter and is probably causing the framework to rot.

Sunday we came home. We stopped briefly in Seaside for lunch and to score some taffy from the Buzz (the best taffy EVER). We got home about six or so. It was a long weekend and I think I’m still recovering. We’re down to about two weeks with SO MUCH to do. Also, school started last week so I’ve added two online classes to the mix. Luckily they’re pretty applicable; Human Growth and Development, and Time and Stress Management. Check out the album titled "Rockaway" for more pics.

We’re headed down to Rockaway for the weekend. Taking my car, Tony’s mom, and a load of stuff. And hopefully a little timeto relax (for Tony especially)! He’s been working non-stop, school started for me this week, packing is weighing on both our shoulders, etc. I’m going to miss my ar when we leave it there…even though I only drive it a couple of times a week. We’re going to become a one car family which means a have to bite the bullet and learn how to drive a stick. Which I dislike both on principle and due to my tendency toward car sickness. Though, ifthat’s the case, I should prefer to drive versus ride in one anyway. Below; not the exact route we’re taking, but a general idea. Estimated time is 4 hours and 16 minutes to 5 hours. Not to sound awful, and I’m sure after one hour I’ll be bored, but that’s how much time I get to be alone! Anyway, we need to get out of here by eleven thirty and I still need to shower, pack for the weekend, pack what’s already packed into the car (okay, that’ll probably be more Tony), wake, feed, and dress the girl. You get the idea. So, if we’re MIA you know where we’ll be.

hint: turn your sound on.

Ali is such a daddy’s girl. In the last few weeks she has somehow become referred to as "Daughter," which has now been shortened to "Dot." Mostly by Tony, who’s known to nickname everything. Ali alone has more than I can remember, including: Tiny, Tiny Buns, Tiny Pants, Al, Sweet Girl, Alizabetta, etc. Here are a few moments between them the other day.

Yesterday Ali had an impromptu photo shoot with a flower. This morning I had some fun with Photoshop. Check out the obscene amount of shots in the newest album.

I’m never surprised at how little information from school I’ve retained over the years (most of it seemed pointless to learn at the time), but it seems I’ve lost knowledge of greater importance as well. Case in point is the above line from my retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk to Ali. I made it through Act I easy enough (Jack with the cow and the beans and his father, etc), but once Jack climbed the stalk, things got a little hazy. It happens all the time when I’m telling her stories or singing lullabies. I’ll get the beginning spot on, she’s lovin’ it, I’m in the zone, then its gone. So I end up taking the story half where I think it goes and half where I think it should go. Sometimes (as in the case of that "Hush Little Baby" song) we end up with radically different results each time. But as my Aunt Susie (an elementary school teacher / child development expert) attests: "As long as it rhymes, it doesn’t really matter what it is."

As for how we got to the pirate giant, I’ll just leave that to your imagination.

It should also be noted that Ali hung in there last week for the Hawks‘ disturbing loss to rival Iowa State. She stayed in my arms during the whole second half, keeping the faith alive. She also took her first loss in stride, shedding only a few tears before a big late lunch and a nap. It’s a ritual all of us football fans can appreciate.

Today we went to PRC and picked up some goodies. TONS of cute clothes for Ali (clothes are one baby buck each, when had over one hundred and spent eighty-five), mostly for when she’s bigger. I also got an electric breast pump, so expect a report soon on how that works out. Afterwards we when to my ob-gyn and I got an IUD put in. Technically a "goody," but doesn’t exactly feel like such. Feels like period cramps really. So, nothing too horrible but definitely unpleasant. It’s gray and raining here. I’m now in sweats and a hoodie so I’m ready to spend the rest of the day relaxing in our newly warmed house (we turned the heater on this week and, though it’s a low setting, it’s AWESOME).

This is Ali last night at Royal Palm taking a bottle from Billie. Ali’s type of goodies!

Ali is such a morning girl. Lately her and I have been getting up between six thirty and seven thirty. She eats and then I pump. I make breakfast and then eat it while she watches and talks and smiles. Then we go back to the front room and she’s either still happy, hungry again, tired but acting hungry because she wants to nurse to sleep, or just plain cranky. This is one of my favorite parts of the day….and should be because it has lately been putting me asleep before ten!

Ali took her first bottle Friday night from Tony. She ate (drank?) four or so ounces! I guess I don’t really know what she gets from me, but that seemed like a ton. She’s also turned into quite the little runner. Okay, not really. But she looks so cute in the "exercise outfit" Tony put her in while I walked with her in the Snugli.